How to create a shipping module

[skylarker]

A client wants me to quote on creating a shipping module, and although I've had a fair amount of experience customizing ZC (both look/feel and functionality), I'm not sure where to start. Basically it's an option to ship with a trucking company that bases rates on a combination of weight and zip code, shouldn't be too hairy. But how do you create a contrib? The documentation I've found is pretty sketchy/nonexistent. Anyone able to give me some starting advice? Any thoughts on how long this development would take? Thanks loads!

[Absolute]

The best thing to do is to take a look at the existing modules, and then adapt them to your own needs. There a few shipping mods in the downloads section. I would suggest you download one of these packages, nd then you can see for yourself what is involved.

In terms of timescale, I normally allow about 4 hours for shipping and payment module creation. If this is your first, then if you are a fast learner I'd guess a day, if you need to go away and do a bit of class research for php, then possibly a little longer.

Good luck

Absolute

[skylarker]

The best thing to do is to take a look at the existing modules, and then adapt them to your own needs. There a few shipping mods in the downloads section. I would suggest you download one of these packages, nd then you can see for yourself what is involved.

In terms of timescale, I normally allow about 4 hours for shipping and payment module creation. If this is your first, then if you are a fast learner I'd guess a day, if you need to go away and do a bit of class research for php, then possibly a little longer.

Good luck

Absolute

Thanks for the info, that doesn't sound too bad. Do most shipping modules use a similar API or something?

[DrByte]

The documentation isn't completed at the present time; however, the general layout is similar between each of them.
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.p...pers_-_Modules

[Absolute]

All of the shipping modules are classes. Each of these classes is similar, as they all have the same basic functions for returning the price, quotes etc. Obviously you are free to add your own functions, variables etc.

If you examine the way the current shipping modules work, and the expected return from each function, you can then write your own to follow the same pattern.

Absolute